Skylaunch 2 Evolution

Description
Specifications
Operating Costs
Cost Payback
Prices/Configurator

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This compact winch design has been proven over 30 years operation and the latest model is the Skylaunch “Evolution”.

The new Evo model is mechanically almost the same as the original but with many improvements.

Robust design with many safety features ensures a reliable, easily operated and maintained, long life machine.

The Lightweight winch is easily towed on soft airfield or on highway with a 4 x 4 vehicle (or similar). A trailer unit is now optional, So the winch can be truck mounted if required.

The winch is available in 3 basic stages of build with many options available.

The new Evo chassis is 300mm longer, improving access and cable self pay-on onto drums.

Simple colour coded controls are ergonomically positioned for safe launching. Both cable drum brakes are controlled by a single lever.

Unique preset selectors for glider air speed/tension and head wind speed to launch ALL weights/speeds of glider – any glider type is accurately launched with ease (throttle is damped to control acceleration rate).

Existing winch drivers are typically converted to Skylaunch operation within 6 launches.

More info.....

New 1.8m (70”) wide comfortable safety cab with good visibility, heating (optional air conditioning), luxury driver’s and training seat.

Laminated safety glass all round, flashing beacon, emergency siren, and roof ventilation hatches.

Easy access covers, rear with gas spring assistors and front a one piece sliding unit.

All designs are for maximum safety in operation and minimum maintenance.

Latest generation GM V8 MKVI engines (LPG / petrol) are new units.

The Engine cooled by a large radiator with thermo switched reverse pitch fan and electric auxiliary fan, hot air exits downwind.

Engine/transmission combination gives excellent acceleration and smooth power delivery to control cable speed from vintage to the heaviest twin seat gliders with the same accuracy

Heavy duty auto transmission with industrial cooler unit. Long life exhausts, self-contained on engine, exits downwind, also ensures compact engine/transmission power pack.

Swivelling cable pulley / roller, fitted with plastic pulleys and aluminium tube side rollers for use with synthetic cable or hardened steel pulleys / rollers for steel cable (interchangeable as required).

All bearings are standard metric, sealed and the same size for both pulleys and rollers.

Cable entry/exit height is low level for safety and easy access.

Heavy duty guillotines are activated by very powerful springs and will easily cut steel or synthetic cables.

Lightweight steel cable drums are reinforced, large diameter and narrow width with anti-loop guides.

No cable pay-on mechanisms are required.

Cable feeds onto bottom of drum for safer, trouble free operation.

Standard Drums will easily accommodate all materials of cable up to 2,000 metres (6,500 ft) long.

Fully machined and balanced drums produce launches of exceptional smoothness.

Final drive of robust design specifically manufactured for launching gliders to give reliability, now with new high capacity housing.

Features include hardened spline male/female couplings for drum selection and standard Lockheed disc brake system. With automatic cable Tow-out system.

All bearings, seals and fasteners, etc are standard metric components.

For simplicity, reliability and ease of maintenance, no computers, high pressure air or hydraulic systems are incorporated on these winches (except for diesel option).

Controls are simple, trouble free rods and levers (not electronic, hydraulic or pneumatics).

All machines are supplied with on-site training, including detailed Operator’s and Maintenance Manuals.

Skylaunch winches combine high specification with simplicity and customer service that other manufacturers simply cannot match!

"Its Like Going Up On Rails!"

Specifications

= Standard fitment = Optional = Not fitted
Note; Single* drum ‘kit’ winches are prepared for later installation of a second drum, cable pulley / roller assembly and guillotine. **Many of the not fitted (X) items on chart are available separately.		Skylanuch Evolution "Club build" Single drum (twin opt'l) less power system	Skylaunch Evolution "Standard" Ready to launch twin drum winch	Skylaunch Evolution "Premium" Ready to launch twin drum winch	Skylaunch Skydrive 4D or 6D
					4 Drum	6 Drum
ENGINES / TRANSMISSION AND FUEL
	Design displacement and fuel types - New Mk IV General Motors 90° V8 cast iron block and cylinder heads (large capacity sump pan fitted on Skylaunch 2) 7.4 Litre 255kw / 340 hp Propane (LPG) - optional petrol, CNG, carburettor or fuel injection
	8.2 Litre 280kw / 377 hp Propane (LPG) - optional petrol, CNG, carburettor or fuel injection 6.6 Litre 275kw / 365hp Diesel			8.2L	8.2L	8.2L


	Electric option - 280kw (375hp) output with high capacity AGM 550CCA, dry cell batteries and high capacity charging system.
	Standard fuel tank capacity– optional multiple tanks and larger capacities up to 585 litres (propane/LPG) Fuel consumption - Range 0.5 to 0.9 litres per launch		85L LPG 91L petrol	85L LPG 91L petrol	85L LPG 91L petrol	85L LPG 91L petrol


COOLING SYSTEMS	Engine coolant- Large capacity 3 row core radiator with remote header tank. Auxiliary high output electric fan system for engine coolant radiator with thermostatic control - operates with engine on or off
	600mm Ø engine driven industrial reverse pitch fan.
	600mm Ø engine driven, industrial reverse pitch fan with thermo clutch - recommended for winch operation below 10ºC
	Engine oil- Separate industrial cooler with thermo switched fan and overheat warning buzzer / light.
	Transmission fluid- Industrial cooler with thermo switched fan and overheat warning buzzer/ light.
	- OR Automotive cooler with thermo switched fan.
ELECTRICAL	Voltage/ alternator - 12 volt DC/ 63-90amp alternator (to suit electrical options ordered) Fuse type/ battery - DC circuit breakers (mounted in control panel) 105amp, 735 CCA battery (twin batteries with diesel option)
FINAL DRIVE	Construction - Designed and manufactured specifically for launching gliders.	Single drum
	Drum shafts / selectors - High tensile shaft steel using standard metric bearings seals and fasteners. Hardened high grade steel male and female spline couplings.	60Ø shaft	60Ø shafts	60Ø shafts	65Ø shafts	65Ø shafts
	Braking system - Lockheed disc brakes and hydraulic twin pot callipers with standard brake pads (typical pad life 25-30,000 launches). Optional vented discs for single and twin drum winches.	Single drum	Twin drum	Twin drum	Vented	Vented
	Cable tow-out brakes - Fully automatic system engaged by drum selection lever. Tow-out speeds 0-60 kph (0-40 mph).
	Cable drums / pay-on - High strength design, steel construction, machined core and fully balanced. Narrow width and distance to pulleys eliminates need for pay-on mechanisms.	One
	Standard Cable drum capacity/ sizes/ types- Up to 2000 metres (6,500 ft) on each drum (4.5mm Ø cable). Any diameter and steel or synthetic cables can be fitted with no adjustments required.	One	Two	Two	Four	Six
	Drum speeds/ gear ratios - 3:1 to 6:1 to suit customers chosen engine/ transmission.
OPERATOR ENVIRONMENT / CABIN	Construction/ protection - Steel box section frame with heavy gauge steel panel workand plate roof. (Opional folding roof system for open cabin with "Club Build" or "Standard" models).
	Fully enclosed cabin with 2 doors, upholstered panels, cushioned rubber floor, all round laminated 6.4mm safety glass, bronze tint in doors and rear window (optional steel mesh hinging guards).
	Ventilation - 2 speed fan with heater (optional air conditioning).
	Seating - Cushioned Vinyl bench seat.
	- OR Two high back seats with head rests. Driver seat with arm rests.
CONTROL PANEL/ CONTROLS	Glider power/ speed control - Pre-select system for glider type and headwind component (with override). Throttle lever damper safely controls acceleration rate.
	Control console - Includes drive and drum brake levers with master cylinder, throttle lever and mechanism, cable etc. (4D & 6D have remote master cylinders)
	Equipment - Control panel lights, switches, warning buzzer and temperature gauge. Roof top rotating beacon and emergency siren.
	Neutral light - illuminates when drum ‘Neutral’ selected.
	Netral buzzer - sounds if drums not in neutral when ignition off
	Communication - Remote controlled signal lamp on rooftop. Radio mounting bracket with power supply (Std in Premium & Skydrive).
	Radio - Universal mounting point with power supply with power supply. (optional music radio.CD player system)
CHASSIS/ TOWING	Construction - steel channel rails with box section cross members, engine/ transmission mounts, battery tray etc.
	Chassis to lorry or trailer mounts and forklift sockets.
	Securing - Two chassis pivoting wheel chocks with engine starter interlock (if fitted on optional trailer)
	Towing - Box section beams with fully braked independent trailing arm suspension each end. Each axle 1800kg rating . Hubs include auto reverse brakes.
	Wheels/ tyres/ tow hitch- 16” wheel rims (Land Rover 5 stud layout). Tow hitch with gas spring handbrake and 50mm ball coupling (optional NATO ring).
CABLE CUTTING GUILLOTINE(S)	Coil spring powered chisel type guillotines system for use with steel or synthetic cable (with no adjustment or modifications). Cutting blades and trigger pins are easy to service or replace.	One	Two	Two	Four	Six
CABLE PULLEY/ ROLLERS	Construction - Plastic pulleys and aluminium side rollers (for synthetic cable) or pulleys/ rollers manufactured from hardened bearing steel (for steel cable), interchangeable if cable choice is changed.	One	Two	Two	Four	Six
	Features - All pulleys/ rollers use the same standard metric sealed bearing size. Complete head pivot system includes 2 large metric sealed bearings .	One	Two	Two	Four	Six

PANELS/ FINISH	Panels - All thick gauge sheet steel drum covers, rear cover, sliding, one-piece engine cover etc
	Finish - Shot blast and powder coat or primer/ top coat paint. Various components are yellow passivate zinc plated.
	Colours- Yellow/ Blue to RAL specifications developed to give the best recognition against typical airfield background.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS (Metres/Kg)	Length - Note Skylaunch 2 Length Width Height Height (With Trailer) Weight kg (without fuel + cable)	L-4.2 W-2.4 H-2.7 H(T)-3.2 1800kg	L-4.2 W-2.4 H-2.7 H(T)- 3.2 2200kg	L-4.3 W-2.4 H-2.7 H(T)- 3.2 2600kg	L-6.8 W-2.6 H-2.8 5000kg	L-8.2 W-2.6 H-2.8 6000kg
TYPICAL PERFORMANCE	Length of cable/ launch height percentage - 43% to 50% using C of G glider hook in zero head wind conditions.
INSTRUCTIONS	Full set of assembly plans / instructions, extensive guidance for set-up / operation (‘club build’ and ‘kit’ winches). Operator and Maintenance manuals.

Skylaunch Evo Operating Costs

Download pdf

Main Winch Cost Payback Example

CAPITAL COST	UK P £	EUROS €	US D $
Skylaunch 3 standard 7.4 litre LPG winch (Twin Drum)	£43,002.50	€62,353.62	$83,854.88
Straight line depreciation over 20 years	£2,150.12 per annum	€3,117.67 per annum	$4,192.73 per annum
Estimated annual costs – based on 5,000 launches per annum
Capital financing at 6%	£2,580.15	€3,741.22	$5,031.29
Gliding Club overhead at 20% of £30,000 / €43,500 / $58,500	£6,000.00	€8,700.00	$11,700.00
Cables components (parachutes, weak links, shackles, etc)/td>	£600.00	€870.00	$1,170.00
Operating costs (consumables, fuel, cables, etc)	£1,400.00	€2,030.00	$2,730.00
Insurance, miscellaneous and unforeseens	£500.00	€725.00	$975.00
ANNUAL COSTS TOTAL	£11,080.15	€16,066.22	$21,606.29
REVENUE
5,000 launches @ £5,00 / €7.25 / $9.75 per launch	£25,000	€36,250.00	$48,750.00
Capital cost	£43,002.50	€62,353.63	$83,854.88
Net annual revenue (revenue less estimated annual costs)	£13,919.85	€20,183.78	$27,143.71
Theoretical payback on winch	3 years, 1 month

Prices and Winch Configurator

NB: There is a minimum order charge of £15 (excl VAT & carriage)

Please don't hesitate to contact us for a quotation in your local currency.

Please note - prices are for guidance only - We always quote and agree prices and terms
before any orders are officially taken and payments or deliveries are made.

Skylaunch Evolution